“Making a Difference” is Orange County Business Council’s feature series that brings the face and voice of OCBC
members to life by sharing how they’re making a difference in their communities.
May 2023
Two Orange County Business Council investors—Concordia University Irvine and Irvine Valley College—together with Vanguard University, formed a consortium last fall as part of the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, a first-of-its-kind initiative launched in partnership with 45 partner colleges and universities across the state. Over the next four years, campuses will deploy more than 10,000 College Corps students known as fellows to tackle statewide challenges such as food insecurity, K-12 education and climate action. For their participation, fellows earn financial support—a $7,000 living stipend and a $3,000 educational award upon completion—helping to pay off college debt while gaining professional experience. While Orange County may be the nation’s sixth largest county and an economic leader, many of the challenges addressed by the College Corps program are right here in Orange County neighborhoods.
See how a group of Orange County college students is making a difference.
Irvine Valley College
Q: Why does your institution participate in the College Corps program, and how is it important for the future of your fellows and the Orange County community?
A: Irvine Valley College (IVC) participates in #CaliforniansForAll College Corps in order to provide fellows with meaningful work experience and compensation. In addition, the College Corps program allows fellows to impact their communities and develop leadership and communication skills while graduating with less debt. Participants develop meaningful relationships with CEOs, site directors, mentors, and colleagues from higher education institutions. Orange County also benefits as fellows serve in K-12 settings such as after-school programs and tutoring, help climate action as they educate about tide pools and ocean protection, and serve hundreds of families at food pantries.
Q: How has incorporating this program into your campus transformed your fellows, staff, faculty and community?
A: The College Corps program has invigorated the campus culture by emphasizing the importance of serving the community. Currently, our fellows are serving the IVC community on campus at our IVC Food Resource Center. The program has transformed staff and faculty as they encourage our campus community to serve, and as they participate and engage in the IVC College Corps Symposium—events for fellows’ professional development. Faculty and staff assist in creating memorable experiences and building society. It truly has united our campus community.
Q: The issues addressed at the nonprofits served by College Corps—food insecurity, environmental stewardship and equitable educational opportunities—are issues that are at the core for many parts of Orange County. What have your students and administrators learned that might not have been expected?
A: Over the course of six months, fellows have expressed what they have witnessed. They didn’t expect the number of families arriving at the food pantries. They were appalled to see how many children were impacted by food insecurity in Orange County. Fellows have discussed the number of families they see daily in the homeless prevention programs. In addition, information and education about the tide pools has been impactful. School administrators have learned that there is a need for more volunteers, so our goal is to increase cohorts in the future.
Q: How have your students been impacted by the work they are doing in the College Corps program?
“This experience has helped me to gain work experience that prepares me mentally and emotionally. The satisfaction of helping families with food insecurity has increased my engagement and helped me to adopt the mindset of serving the community.”
Yair Rivera
Irvine Valley College College Corps Fellow
Focus: Food Insecurity
Site: South County Outreach
“The education that this program has provided—such as helping the community to understand the function of tide pools—has developed my communication skills as I prepare and translate documents into different languages regarding the tide pools at the ocean.”
Vivian Lee
Irvine Valley College College Corps Fellow
Focus: Climate Action
Site: Laguna Ocean Foundation
“The CollegeCorps program has given me a sense of belonging to a community. My volunteer time has allowed me to create meaningful friendships during my education. Also, seeing the children I serve improve and grow in areas of their academic journey brings me much satisfaction.”
Mitra
Irvine Valley College College Corps Fellow
Focus: K-12 Education
Site: Tustin Unified School District
Q: Learning can happen inside the four walls of a classroom, as well as through life experience such as the College Corps program. What have your students and administrators learned and will any of this be making its way into your classrooms?
A: Fellows and administrators alike have learned that the need is more significant than anticipated. Fellows have expressed how alarming the need for support is in the three areas of focus: climate action, food insecurity, and K-12 education. In the classroom, students bring a fresh perspective about their College Corps experience. They share with their peers the needs in Orange County and encourage others to volunteer.
Q: What does your organization believe goes towards making a community strong?
A: The mission and values of Irvine Valley College stand committed to serving the Orange County community. IVC believes in strengthening and expanding engagement to support any individual in our community, which in turn helps broaden inclusion and equity.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do what you do?
A: The fellows’ experience throughout the last several months has inspired Irvine Valley College to support this program. Fellows have expressed their appreciation for the work experience and networking. The living stipend has also given fellows a boost financially. In addition, fellows feel good about what they do daily for the community. They believe that what they are doing matters to the community, and we are inspired by their work ethic to help others.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: Irvine Valley College College Corps has made an immediate impact. College Corps has served the community’s food insecurity needs, K-12 education, and climate action. Fellows at IVC have provided more assistance to organizations needing an extra hand by serving families, children at elementary schools and after-school programs and educating the community about the components of the ocean. Over the next two years, IVC will continue to partner with Concordia University Irvine and Vanguard University in mobilizing students to engage in K-12 education, food insecurity, and climate action. Near the start of IVC’s College Corp program, fellows were interviewed by OC reporter Vikki Vargas and featured in a news story by NBC Los Angeles affiliate (KNBC-TV).
Vanguard University
Q: Why does your institution participate in the College Corps program, and how is it important for the future of your students and the Orange County community?
A: Service is one of the three longstanding institutional values of Vanguard University. As a faith-based institution, service is part of our mission. College Corps actively engages fellows in service while embedding them in the community to make a tangible change – that is what we seek to do with our students. We see this as a vital part of the fellows’ development, equipping them for a lifetime of leadership and service.
Q: How has incorporating this program into your campus transformed your students, staff, faculty and community?
A: Our fellows have gained the confidence, skills, and connections that come with an intensive internship. Still, the greater gain is the pride they have in the populations they serve. They light up when they talk about the breakthroughs happening in their service areas or the people they serve.
Q: The issues addressed at the nonprofits served by College Corps—food insecurity, environmental stewardship and equitable educational opportunities—are issues that are at the core for many parts of Orange County. What have your students and administrators learned that might not have been expected?
A: The U.S. Department of Education recognizes Vanguard University as a Minority-Serving Institution and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) due to our diverse student population. As such, the fellows who serve with College Corps have often experienced these inequities firsthand, so they are not generally surprised by what they see in the field, but they are learning how to be a solution to the issues that exist. The consistent refrain we hear from the students is that they realized how much they love the type of work they are doing and hope to take that into their future.
Q: How have your students been impacted by the work they are doing in the College Corps program?
“My favorite thing about my site is their compassion toward others. Our goal is to help those in need facing housing and food insecurity. I have seen people get the resources they need to better their own lives. Being part of College Corps means being part of the bigger picture. Usually, in everyday life, it is hard to imagine the impact we are all making in the world. Every day we are making leaps and bounds, and I am so proud to be part of an organization that cares. Being a fellow means being a puzzle piece in a bigger picture.”
Angelina
Vanguard University College Corps Fellow
Focus: K-12 Education and Food Insecurity
Site: Trellis
“My favorite part about my site is the flexibility of working on projects of my own. Over the past few months, I did research on the local native and non-native plants as well as the indigenous people of Orange County. I used this knowledge to lead a guided hike at Carbon Canyon Regional Park that was open to the public! I loved being able to educate others about something I am passionate about and shed new light on something others might have looked past.”
Cameron
Vanguard University College Corps Fellow
Focus: Climate Action
Site: OC Habitats
“Being involved in College Corps means that I am part of something bigger than myself, and I get to be part of something great. It is amazing to be able to help shape the future of our world by tutoring kids in need at our local schools.”
Trevor
Vanguard University College Corps Fellow
Focus: K-12 Education
Site: Empowered Scholars at Edward B. Cole Academy
Q: Learning can happen inside the four walls of a classroom, as well as through life experience such as the College Corps program. What have your students and administrators learned and will any of this be making its way into your classrooms?
A: Fellows are encouraged to combine this experience with a practicum course for their major as applicable.
Q: What does your organization believe goes towards making a community strong?
A: Sustainable structures with invested individuals willing to fill in the gaps that arise.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do what you do?
A: We truly feel this is an embodiment of our mission. The mission of Vanguard University is to pursue knowledge, cultivate character, deepen faith, and equip each student for a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-centered leadership and service.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: To date, Vanguard fellows have contributed over 15,000 hours of service to the Orange County community. By mid-December, College Corps fellows in our consortium (Irvine Valley College, Concordia University Irvine and Vanguard) will have distributed 3,444,400 pounds of food with over 50,000 people served. Almost 1,000 students will have been tutored and 8 habitats will have been restored.
Concordia University Irvine
Q: Why does your institution participate in the College Corps program, and how is it important for the future of your students and the Orange County community?
A: Concordia University Irvine’s mission is to empower students through the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the Great Commission of Christ Jesus and the Lutheran Confessions, for lives of learning, service, and leadership. The College Corps program at Concordia allows students to engage in community service and gain practical experience in areas such as project management, teamwork, and communication. This program aligns with the university’s mission to develop ethical leaders and critical thinkers, providing opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations. Through the program, students are prepared to be responsible citizens and leaders in their communities.
Q: How has incorporating this program into your campus transformed your students, staff, faculty and community?
A: College Corps is a multi-faceted and holistic fellowship program. Initially known for the $10,000 available in scholarship money to assist with financial aid, stories of service and relationship building have transcended that first impression. Concordia’s fellows are already sharing powerful and meaningful interactions with the community, not just the impact that their service is having but also the impact the community has made on them. In addition to helping fellows pay for tuition or living expenses, the College Corps Fellowship allows fellows to serve in our community and make a difference in the lives of others without having to walk away from a paid opportunity. Our fellows see firsthand the power of caring for others through their work.
Q: The issues addressed at the nonprofits served by College Corps—food insecurity, environmental stewardship and equitable educational opportunities—are issues that are at the core for many parts of Orange County. What have your students and administrators learned that might not have been expected?
A: Food Insecurity: Some of our students have themselves experienced food insecurity and have been grateful for the critical assistance they’ve received (and, in some cases, still receive) from local food banks and food pantries. Serving as College Corps Fellows has enabled them to give back to some of the same organizations that have served them. At one of our partners, South County Outreach, Concordia students have learned the power of becoming the hands and feet of a personal checkout system, which gives them the opportunity to build relationships with some of the clients, reduces any potential stigma for clients, and helps clients feel more comfortable with eventually transitioning back to a conventional supermarket. Serving this way enables students to get to know their neighbors, and it puts a more personal face on the issue of food insecurity.
K-12 Education: As Concordia’s College Corps Fellows work with community K-12 students to help them overcome academic challenges, they’ve been surprised to learn that they also have the opportunity to help students with personal challenges. The positive relationships that our fellows build with K-12 students enhances trust, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Furthermore, watching these students shine helps some of our more soft-spoken fellows gain confidence in their own gifts and abilities, building their own self-worth.
Climate Action: While many of Concordia’s students resonate with this issue, they’ve needed to gain an understanding of how specific local actions can impact climate change, even if that impact seems small at first. Our students have learned the value of partnership with organizations, which work together to cover many aspects of the problem. Whether it’s grant writing for research, cleaning up after animals on the farm, or educating people at a beautiful ocean beach–each task these fellows undertake plays a critical role in climate action and helps students better understand this multifaceted issue.
Q: How have your students been impacted by the work they are doing in the College Corps program?
“Everyone has different learning experiences, so I have learned how to adapt to different teaching styles while also growing in patience. If there is only one person I can make an impact on, then I have done my job well.”
Samantha Gonzalez,
Concordia University Irvine College Corps Fellow
Focus: K-12 Education
Site: Learn To Be
“I said yes to College Corps because I’m passionate about helping people. It’s what I want to do with my life.”
Ceiveon Watkins
Concordia University Irvine College Corps Fellow
Focus: K-12 Education
Site: Learn To Be
“Since Tanaka has an educational barnyard, we do classes with the kids. One Saturday, they came in for ‘chicks and sprouts’ where they had the opportunity to see the produce growing in the dirt, pull it up for themselves and harvest the produce (for a recipe we would provide for them to make at home). To see the light bulb moment, that there is a much bigger process—many of the kids were excited about the experience, and I was thankful to be there to learn where their food comes from.”
Laura Gibson
Concordia University Irvine College Corps Fellow
Focus: Climate Action
Site: Tanaka Farms
“Growing up in Riverside, I attended a school in a lower-privileged area that received help through community service. By focusing on climate action with The Cool OC, I’ve felt more connected to Irvine by helping others know about climate programs that can help reduce carbon emissions, and I get to meet neighbors, too.”
Samantha Sinclair
Concordia University Irvine College Corps Fellow
Focus: Climate Action
Site: The Cool OC
“It’s been amazing to work at South County Outreach, surrounding myself with good people and the satisfaction of helping others in need. I love it.”
Manuel Diaz
Concordia University Irvine College Corps Fellow
Focus: Food Insecurity
Site: South County Outreach
Q: Learning can happen inside the four walls of a classroom, as well as through life experience such as the College Corps program. What have your students and administrators learned and will any of this be making its way into your classrooms?
A: Throughout this process, with Concordia’s College Corps Fellows, we have yet again seen the passion, commitment, and enthusiasm that Gen Z brings to the table. There is also a deep desire for authenticity and transparency. Maximizing this in the classroom, as well as in the workforce, is critical. As each generation also faces its challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on current university-aged students. Working to provide additional professional development training options, mental health resources, and the opportunity to develop a healthy work-life balance will be key moving forward.
Q: What does your organization believe goes towards making a community strong?
A: At Concordia, we believe that strong communities develop when people focus less on themselves and more on loving and serving their neighbors. This service takes all sorts of forms, including participating in local economies, educating others, and performing acts of community service. When we take specific action to help “the least of these” around us, when we work together to be good stewards of the environment, and when we help others to thrive, we help create a more livable, vibrant, and successful community for everyone.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do what you do?
A: Our mission at Concordia is to prepare students for lives of learning, service, and leadership. We believe that God calls His redeemed children to lives of love and service towards others. We maintain that as we use our gifts and abilities in all aspects of our lives, we fulfill His call for us to be the light of the world.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: Each year, Concordia serves more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and we award more than 1,000 diplomas each year. Our graduates leave Concordia better equipped to serve our Orange County community as teachers, nurses, counselors, business leaders, healthcare administrators, scientists, church workers, artists, and employees in many other sectors of our local economy. As wise, honorable, cultivated citizens, they are prepared to engage in civil dialogue about how we can best improve our society, and they have developed a desire to love and serve others through their work, their avocations, and their participation in community service.
Other Orange County-based nonprofits being served by Concordia University Irvine, Irvine Valley College and Vanguard University fellows include:
Family Assistance Ministries
IVC Food Resource Center
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
The Seva Collective
Southwest Community Center
Step Up Tutoring
